Big Ideas
736 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 40 ratingsBig Ideas brings you the best of talks, forums, debates, and festivals held in Australia and around the world, casting light on the major social, cultural, scientific and political issues
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Episodes
Future medicine
October 05, 2021 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBSurgeon Anand Deva saw so many patients with tardily treated skin cancers or chronic wounds that he began trying to change the system. He created clinics where people can access all of their treatment providers on the same day in the same place. It’s called integrated care. And along with genomics and big data, it could be part of Future medicine.
An Iranian perspective on life in Iran
October 04, 2021 09:05 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBIran is often synonymous with rogue behaviour on the world stage, but there is also another, rarely seen side to this nation. Iranian American journalist Tara Kangarloub is telling the people’s story, showing what life in Iran is really like – beyond the many times hostile headlines in the mainstream media and optics of foreign policy.
Preventing domestic violence
September 30, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAustralian governments have spent billions of dollars fighting gendered violence. But the grim statistic persists – on average one woman is killed by an intimate partner every week. How many people understand violence sits on a continuum that can start with rigid stereotypes and sexist jokes? How can campaigns against gendered violence be more effective?
Writers discuss the power of words
September 29, 2021 10:05 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBWords matter, and they have power. If they didn’t, writers and poets wouldn’t be persecuted and imprisoned for what they had written. Around the world, citizens are banned from saying and writing certain things. And we can all think of well-chosen, or well-written, words that have helped inspire and liberate people. Paul Barclay speaks with three prominent Australian writers.
Saving endangered languages
September 28, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThere are around 7000 languages in the world. But about half of them are endangered or nearly extinct. Some languages are spoken only by a handful of people. Like Ongota in Ethopia or Lemerig on Vanuatu. Losing a language also means losing cultural heritage. Find out on Big Ideas, how languages can be revitalised and why historically, there has been a focus on the decline rather than the future of minoritised languages. ...
US Alliance at 70: Howard Gillard
September 27, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe recent AUKUS security pact reaffirms Australia’s long held commitment to the United States. They’ve been in a formal alliance since 1951. On the 70th anniversary of the countries’ first Treaty - ANZUS - former Prime Ministers John Howard and Julia Gillard explained why they support it.
What is happiness?
September 23, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBMany of us spend years building up our skills and climbing the career ladder. When we earn more money, does it make us happier? Perhaps the ancient Greeks were right – living a virtuous life is the key to feeling good. What about positive thinking and gratitude, do they work?
Is it time to free Julian Assange?
September 22, 2021 10:05 - 58 minutes - 53.3 MBAustralian parliamentarians, from across the party divide, believe it’s time for the United States to stop its pursuit of Wikileaks founder, Julian Assange. Assange remains in a UK prison, despite defeating a US extradition request. If the US appeal succeeds, he faces espionage charges, and the possibility of a long jail term. Should Assange be freed from prison, and the charges against him dropped? What are the free speech implications for journalis...
Inclusion equals success
September 21, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat defines success? Australia’s founding fathers proudly dispossessed Aboriginal inhabitants in the name of nation building. Ben Wyatt argues success is now defined by including indigenous people. He was WA’s Aboriginal Affairs Minister when Rio Tinto destroyed the Juukan caves. Now a board member, the former politician explains how it was allowed to happen.
Can the love hormone treat PTSD?
September 20, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBPeople who are abused as children can face life-long health and social problems. Many struggle despite cognitive behavioural therapy, anti-depressants and the like. How much faith should we place in the new frontier of psychiatric medicine? The drug more often associated with motherhood – oxytocin – is showing promise in the laboratory. Can the ‘love hormone’ alleviate the impacts of childhood trauma?
Indigenous arts
September 16, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBThe arts industry has been slammed by Covid-19, with many thousands of events cancelled and artists out of work. Indigenous art has been particularly affected. Aboriginal directors Wesley Enoch and Rhoda Roberts believe creative expression is so powerful it can help break down racial prejudice. But now, they fear that a generation of indigenous creatives might be left behind.
Anita Heiss on celebrating Aboriginal heroes and learning Wiradjuri
September 15, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat does the Australian country town of Gundagai make you think of? The statue of the "dog on the tuckerbox"? The old folksong, Along the road to Gundagai? Or do you think of the great flood of 1852 – the deadliest in our history - and the remarkable heroism of two Aboriginal men who saved over 60 people, using their bark canoes. Writer, Anita Heiss, a Wiradjuri woman, talks to Paul Barclay about her new book, Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray, which cel...
Bobby Rush – and his Blues story
September 14, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBBlues legend Bobby Rush has recorded hundreds of songs, collaborated with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters, and headlined music festivals all over the world. At 87, he still tours more than 200 days a year, entertaining audiences with his unique funk-infused blues tunes. But Bobby Rush’s story is not just about music, but also one of racism and pain.
Implications of the September 11 attacks - 20 year's on
September 13, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBAt the 20th anniversary of 9/11, Big Ideas looks at how the attacks have reverberated over the past two decades and continue to impact global affairs. What has been the experience of Muslim, and non-Muslim youth growing up during the ‘war on terror’? And how did the attacks influence civil liberties and political polarisation?
Illiberal democracies on the rise
September 09, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIt is no secret that the idea of an open, pluralistic democracy is under stress. It is being challenged by a new form of democracy that has certain closed, nationalistic, and autocratic features - so called "illiberal democracy." Illiberalism is anti-plural; seeks to make distinctions by race and ethnicity; and it uses anti-democratic means to achieve and maintain power. Big Ideas explores the rise of illiberal democracies in Brazil, Hungary and India...
How useful are mindfulness apps?
September 08, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBHow effective are mindfulness apps on your smartphone? These apps are increasingly popular, making mindfulness meditation more accessible. Over a hundred million people have the “Calm” app on their phone. It is a two-billion-dollar business. Do these apps help you to “be present”, or improve your mental health? Or are they another digital distraction?
Political football - Part 2
September 07, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat is the legacy of Australia’s first major racism protests, 50 years ago? The action targeted the touring South African rugby team, not our own national shame. Were Australia’s white anti-apartheid activists aware of Aboriginal disadvantage and disempowerment? And how did Queensland’s harsh state of emergency shape its future?
Political football - Part 1
September 06, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIt's 50 years since one of the darkest periods in Queensland history, when police violently suppressed anti-apartheid protests against South Africa’s touring rugby team. Students, unions and Black Rights activists were among the protestors. This is the first episode in a two-part series discussing the legacy of that tumultuous time.
Pacific matters
September 02, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAt a time when the South Pacific is a focus of geo-political tension, it’s also facing worsening economic and health challenges. There’s rising unemployment, food shortages and girls are being pulled out of schools. The pandemic has smashed tourism – the biggestindustry. Meanwhile, the islands are still recovering from last summer’s extreme cyclone, something forecast to be more common with climate change.
Turning science into solutions
September 01, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBAustralia produces world leading scientists, and world class scientific research. But, compared to the United States, the UK, and other countries, we don’t translate enough of our science into solutions or products. Do we lack an entrepreneurial culture? Are universities, and other institutions, doing enough to encourage innovation and industry collaboration? Is covid 19 changing how scientists work, for the better? Paul Barclay speaks to Australia’s ...
Has the Black Lives Matter movement changed anything?
August 31, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBBlack Lives Matter: Has anything really changed? The protests following the death of George Floyd generated a surprising solidarity against racism in many countries around the world. And BLM became a symbol against the oppression of many different minority groups. But looking at policies, organisations and the general society, experts say that not much has really changed. Governments have used the protests to clamp down on activism and re-define racis...
Pandemic fatigue
August 30, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 50.1 MBAs Covid lockdowns drag on, there’s rising concern about a “shadow pandemic” of stress and mental illness, particularly among young people. Some are struggling with isolation, insecure work and housing and dislocation from higher education. Thirty percent of young people are reporting high or very high levels of psychological distress. Why is the pandemic taking the greatest mental toll on young people, and what can be done about it? ...
How important is common knowledge?
August 26, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBDo you ever think common knowledge doesn’t seem quite as common anymore? Philosopher, Dr Mike Wilby argues common knowledge is essential for a thriving democracy. But, he says it’s undermined by our increasingly polarised politics and society. It’s a dynamic exploited by populist and divisive leaders…like those of the last century in totalitarian Germany and Russia. So, does the past offer lessons about the importance of common knowledge? ...
Celebrating soil
August 25, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBShould soil be revered and celebrated? Our food and the air we breathe depend upon an intricate web of billions of healthy soil microbes. They even deliver messages underground between plants. But the best of the dirt beneath us – topsoil – is fast being degraded. Author, farmer and chef Matthew Evans shares his love of soil and growing great food.
Who's afraid of big tech?
August 24, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWe’ve never been so connected, or divided – thanks to the handful of powerful companies that dominate global computation. They bank billions in profit but take little responsibility for disinformation that harms people and democracy. Should they be forced to limit what billions of users can do on their platforms? Who’s afraid of Big Tech? A panel discussion presented by the Sydney Writers’ Festival.
The Northern Ireland conflict – and does religion cause terrorism?
August 23, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe Troubles that saw Ireland locked in a violent conflict until the late 90s are still shaping community sensitivities today. The even played out in the recent Brexit negotiations. While some of the killings became notorious, many of the more than 3500 individual deaths disappeared into statistics. And - Big Ideas explores: Does religion cause terrorism?
Dog's best friend
August 19, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIt’s well known that pet ownership is surging as we navigate Covid solitude. But our affection goes way back – dogs are even celebrated on ancient rock art. Now some are treated like people, and author Simon Garfield questions whether it’s healthy. This talk is provided by the York Festival of Ideas. The Festival is led by the University of York, UK.
Vaccines, stem cells, and the myth of wellness
August 18, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 50 MBShould you have your children vaccinated against coronavirus? Is wellness a myth? What happened to "Holy Grail" of regenerative medicine? With so much conflicting advice around, how do you know what’s really good for you, health-wise? These matters, and more, are covered in this wide- ranging discussion, featuring some the country’s best health and medical minds.
Travelling to space with Virgin Galactic
August 17, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIf you have $335,000 spare, you could fly to the edge of space next year. Virgin Galactic has recently heralded the start of the era of space tourism. And they are not the only ones. Blue Origin also accomplished their first real space trip. Writer Nicholas Schmidle followed Virgin Galactic's long journey from vision to successful space travel.
Is climate change inaction morally corrupt?
August 16, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIs climate change inaction and denial about science? Philosopher Stephen Gardiner suggests it can represent moral corruption. To help counter this he proposes making our governments and institutions legally compelled to act for future generations. To achieve momentous change he says we first need a global constitutional convention.
Restraining police restraint
August 12, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBDeaths in custody are a recurring tragedy for many countries, including Australia, the United States and in the United Kingdom. Victims are disproportionately black. They often die after being restrained during a mental health crisis, or while intoxicated. In the UK, barrister Leslie Thomas blames institutional racism for such deaths, and the lack of convictions that follow. We’ll also hear from other experts on how to stop this devastation. ...
Kenan Malik: a history of morality and ethics
August 11, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThroughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times. Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty. But what if you don’t believe in god? Where do you find your truth then? How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of ...
Kenan Malik: a history of morality and ethics.
August 11, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThroughout the millennia, great thinkers and humble citizens alike have grappled with the idea of what it means to live a moral life - from ancient Greece, to the enlightenment, all the way through to modern times. Way back, it was the gods, or a singular god, that people looked to for guidance and moral certainty. But what if you don’t believe in god? Where do you find your truth then? How do we navigate the moral and ethical quandaries of ...
Atlas of AI
August 10, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIf you’ve booked a Covid vaccination online, it’s likely that artificial intelligence helped find you the nearest and soonest appointment. It’s one of many ways AI makes our lives easier. But it's long been known that AI is also dangerous. So, how can its benefits be better balanced against its harms? AI expert Kate Crawford urges us to look behind the technology. She’s speaking to Fenella Kernebone from Sydney Ideas. ...
Atlas of Ai
August 10, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBIf you’ve booked a Covid vaccination online, it’s likely that artificial intelligence helped find you the nearest and soonest appointment. It’s one of many ways Ai makes our lives easier. But it's long been known that Ai is also dangerous. So, how can its benefits be better balanced against its harms? Ai expert Kate Crawford urges us to look behind the technology. She’s speaking to Fenella Kernebone from Sydney Ideas. ...
Better economics and the duty to rescue
August 09, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat economic strategy creates the most jobs? What economic theory is best for society? Economist Tim Thornton says that outdated economics is holding us back, and we must make way for a better theory to re-imagine what our economy and society could look like. AND – the duty to rescue another person in an emergency. The legal responsibility varies enormously from country to county. Where does Australia sit?
The role of witness anonymity
August 05, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWitnesses giving evidence in court and during inquests from behind a screen and under pseudonym names. Sometimes there are highly sensitive investigative techniques involved, or undercover assets who could be put at risk. But Law Professor Leslie Thomas says it’s too often simply to spare state agents from embarrassment. And that’s not a good enough reason for the families and a treat to open justice.
‘Doc’ Evatt’s great dissenting judgement
August 04, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBWhat does a dissenting judgement, from High Court in the 1930’s, tell us about a brilliant, but polarising, Australian. HV Evatt, better known as Doc, was an internationally recognised jurist, and a leading politician. Evatt was Australia's youngest ever High Court judge, but remains best known for taking Labor into the political wilderness during the Menzies years. A new, The Brilliant Boy, seeks to set the record straight. ...
History of Eastern Europe
August 03, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBEastern Europe is not a region characterized by “ancient hatred” as it’s often stated. But why has the region seen so much conflict? Historian John Connelly says it’s a place where people possess a disturbing knowledge: that in the course of history, nations come and go. Some disappear. Therefore, maintaining your culture and language has become a necessity. Big Ideas explores their particular form of nationalism in Eastern Europe. ...
Covid "iso" and the teen brain
August 02, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBDo you worry about the teenagers in your life? If so, you’re in good company. Socrates, Aristotle and even Shakespeare wrote of the impulsiveness and peer influence of adolescents. Once, hormones were blamed. Now, MRIs tell us their brains haven’t finished developing - in key areas associated with much-maligned teenage behaviour. These include planning, self-awareness, inhibiting inappropriate actions and even understanding other people. So, given the...
Food , family and multicultural Australia
July 29, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBFood connects us with family and builds community. For migrants it offers a taste of the old country and an entrée into the new. For indigenous Australians, it’s sixty thousand years of knowledge about bush tucker. We visit two multicultural festivals to discover food and cultural identity.
Health conditions neglected by pandemic focus
July 27, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBEighteen months of Covid restrictions have bent daily life and the health system out of shape. The pandemic has put other health conditions to one side. Cancer screening, mental health, elective surgery and dental check-ups are delayed or rescheduled. How can we make sure they're not forgotten?
Statistics and COVID-19
July 26, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.7 MBSifting truth from statistical chaff is more important than ever in these times of misinformation and information overload. From numbers on COVID cases and vaccination to numbers on elections and unemployment, the correct interpretation of statistics is crucial to help you understand the world around you. The secret is being open-minded without being gullible, maintaining a healthy scepticism without lapsing into cynicism. Above all, being curious. ...
Deaths in custody and songlines
July 22, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.8 MBOver 470 indigenous Australians have died since the royal commission thirty years ago. Indigenous people over-represented in our criminal justice system. They’re more likely to find themselves in police lock-ups and prisons. And more at risk of dying in custody. Indigenous law professor Larissa Behrendt looks at what’s behind those terrible statistics.
Improving psychiatry and the treatment of mental illness
July 21, 2021 10:05 - 55 minutes - 50.6 MBAustralia's mental health system is broken and needs to change. On this, psychiatrists, as well as those with a mental illness, agree. But what needs to be done? Are we pathologizing normal human distress, and prescribing too much medication? Could psychedelic drugs, and therapy, be part of the solution?
Environment as financial investment
July 20, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBThe finance industry is turning away from investing in fossil fuels, consumers are forcing businesses to create more sustainable supply chains and preserving nature is being rewarded with cash incentives. Big Ideas explores how the nature of financial investment is changing to better reflect the ecosystem of the planet we live on, and how investing in nature can underpin sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
Learning Asian languages and Mandarin in China
July 19, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBWe've been encouraged for decades to learn an Asian language but many of us don't see the need to be bilingual. If we want deep engagement with our Asian neighbours then language learning should be a priority. In China, the government is pushing for the use of the national language Mandarin. While the benefits of a common language are understood minorities fear the loss of local languages and cultural identity.
100 years of the Chinese communist party
July 15, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 50 MBThe Chinese Communist Party celebrated its centenary recently. In 1921 China was a poor country dominated by foreign powers. One hundred years later it’s an emerging superpower with the party and its leader Xi Jinping tightly in control. So how does President Xi see China’s future?
What makes great teaching and great schools?
July 14, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.5 MBInspired teaching can change lives. What are the ingredients of great teaching, and great schools?
Improving the way we make decisions
July 13, 2021 10:05 - 54 minutes - 49.9 MBIf you’re trying to make a decision you collect all the data, weigh up the alternatives and come to a logical conclusion. That’s how it’s supposed to happen. But in real life decisions are made on the run, you follow your intuition or fall back on what you did last time. Psychologist Daniel Kahneman has made a career of understanding how we make decisions and judgements. And how we can be better at it.